In those days , most of us canal enthusiasts got only 2 sometimes 3 weeks annual leave., the exceptions being teachers and lecturers who seemed to have more holidays than work time then. So the 1976 holiday was planned in the spring and was to take place,end of July, beginning of August and limited to 2weeks. The journey was Ashton Under Lyne, just east of Manchester to London and return. The boat was a wooden motor set up as a very basic camping style, quite common then amongst the still intact carrying fleets. The crew consisted of 11 adults and one child aged about 7. One person volunteered to do the catering for the whole trip and he organised to provide a box of food a day .
We set off towards Marple, water level was well down and we could not get through the Astley Street bridge, badly stuck on the bottom. It was decided that we turn round and go via the Rochdale 9 but that was closed ,shortage of water. Long story short, we got through the Rochdale, by dint of some blagging/diplomacy of which I had no part.
Leaving the Rochdale the trip went well, to keep to time we ran 18hour days, shifts at the tiller,starting 6AM and tying up about midnight. At various lock flights certain crew members would disappear "for a swift half". We couldn't stop for them and it was up to them to catch up , I recall at least one crew member was lost for about 24 hours, he caught up somewhere south of Brum.
In general, water levels were ok till we got to the Knowle Hatton section of the GU it looked to be 2ft or more down and we crawled along what seemed to be a little channel down the middle, slow but steady progress, after that we did ok and arrived at Regents Canal dock, ship lock as it was then(very large).
One crew member was stationed on the foredeck to handle the rope from the Lockmaster. Lock emptied, gates opened to reveal a distinctly choppy and wide River Thames, there were many craft around creating a lot of wash. we turned up river, with the tide and it was then we became aware that we were mingled with a Lightermans' race . The guy on the foredeck was stuck there getting wet from spray as the boat was rocking and rolling so unsafe to use the top plank.There were a number of Thames Lighters with no power and one steerer going with the tide and it was first through Tower Bridge was the winner. We arrived just as the winner passed under the bridge, I don't know if the crowds were cheering us or the lighterman .
On past the Houses of Parliament, quite close, there were no restrictions then. Looking for the turn off for Brentford, thought we saw it so started to turn but it wasn't (Later , found it was Grosvenor Canal?) Eventually got towards the channel for Brentford, still being swept along by the tide, full power to just miss an island(?) and we arrived safely in Brentford dock.
The return journey was pretty much uneventful except by the time we got to top of Marple there was only a tin of sardines and some bread left to feed the crew , as in 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Oddly enough the caterer/cook much later went on to be a Reverend!
It was an epic trip and one which could not be done today in the timescales even if there were no water shortages. Most of the canals we used were still in reasonable nick from the commercial carrying days, locks worked properly and canal staff knew what they were about.
I wouldn't attempt it now,I'm too old and a system in much decline. Restored canals like the Rochdale and HNC have come available since 1976, but now gradually fading away again to oblivion. Lack of water, lack of money, lack of know-how. We had our fun times.